Obtaining BCBA certification?
It is beneficial to get your BCBA or BCABA certification... It would probablyl increase your chances of obtaining a position in a field that provides ABA. Additionally, many times, if you have the BCBA, you can oversee others or do more work on your own (and make more money). Many times, without the BCBA, you can only work in the field, but have to be supervised by a BCBA. So, I would definately pursue it while you are working. I live in South Jersey. There are many opportunities in the area. Currently, I teach, and I am a consultant in the Applied Behavior Analysis field, which is really where I go into homes, and oversee the ABA programs. I would develop the programs based on the child, and train the ABA providers to implement the program... then follow up and consult as needed (e.g., collect/review data, parent/staff training). I get paid 55.00/hr as a consultant, and I have my BCABA... But, if you want to be the person who works 1:1, then your really don't need the cirtifications, and get paid accordingly. Try Bancroft NeuroHealth (Haddonfield), Devereux, or a special services school district (Gloucester County or Burlington County). There are also many independents (Interactive Kids in Marlton).
Question On Obtaining Supervised Hours For BCBA?
I am considering enrolling in a school to obtain a masters degree in ABA. I realize I will need several hours of supervision before I can take the exam and my question is has anyone else obtained their hours in an actual paid position and if so what job was it and was it difficult to find? The reason I ask this is because I am a single mom of a special needs kid and it would therefore be impossible for me to either pay someone else to supervise me-too expensive or to obtain my hours as an unpaid intern. Thanks!
Should I take the Mensa supervised test?
I understand your concern. I had the same one. My step-dad was a member of Mensa. My mom secretly took the test while they were dating and she passed. My mom has often claimed that I am smarter than her, but mom's are not very objective. I knew that if I took the test and failed, it would be disappointing for her and me (I was not so secretive, so she knew I was going to try it). But, I had to know, it was like an obsession I couldn't shake off. I am glad I did it, but I don't know how I would feel if I had not passed. I have heard that most people who attempt it do pass, due to self-selection. Since you are thinking about doing it, you probably have a better chance of passing than people who have no desire to try - I don't know how comforting that is? I think that if you don't do it, the need to know will haunt you. Just do it, get it over with, and if you don't pass just assume that you ranked somewhere around 97.9% (it is designed so that 98% of the population should not pass). They won't tell you exactly how you did, whether or not you pass, so it's completely safe to assume high to prevent total devastation.
BCBA (board certified behavior analyst) schools with experience hours?
I want to be a BCBA, and I am looking for a masters program or certification program that has all of the course requirements to take the BCBA exam (many have this) and provides all of the supervision / fieldwork / practicum requirements. I can't find any that have the supervision/fieldwork/practicum hour requirements included in the program... Do you know of any?
Why are there so few BCBAs to supervise ABA therapy?
First I would like to point out how ABA works, for those that dont know.So in my years I have seen many therapies come and go. ABA us the only one that consistently uses the scientific method that I have seen.Observe a behavior. Take data on it. Offer a replacement behavior that can meet the needs of the child while have a lowered negative consequence. Take data on the new behavior. If the new behavior increases and the negative consequences decreases, then that is a successful therapy. If it doesnt, then try something different.That is a simplified broken down example of ABA.I see students come to the facility I work at who have been kicked out of every public and many private schools. They tend to be successful here. They are able to weave their way through the social world more successfully.Another writer here stated ABA teaches a child to “Hide” their autism. My brother is an example of someone who was never treated. He is unable to hold a job or maintain a relationship. He is high functioning (very) but can not socially interact with others.Saying that ABA “hides” autistic behavior is like saying a wheelchair “hides” paralyzed legs. That is absolutely ridiculous. Just like a wheelchair is allows someone to overcome their challenges and navigate a world that is not designed with them in mind. We live in a social world and in order to navigate it someone with autism requires extra services to understand and cope with social interactions that do not come naturally to them.As far as why there arent that many? Couple of reasons.First, the training is long and difficult, many years of expensive schooling.Another reason is that its very specialized. Unless you are already in a related field you probably dont know what it is.Also, there arent millions of these jobs out there. I work at a shcool with about 100 students on the spectrum and we have 2.Many schools have none.
How hard is it to get a job as a BCBA?
The demand of the BCBA is growing day by day, Board Certified Behavior Analysts can also work in disciplinary fields of education, psychology and other helping professions. Professionals in applied behavior analysis engage in the specific and comprehensive use of principles of learning to address the behavioral needs of widely varying individuals in diverse settings.1. Complete a master degree in Behavior analysis or other natural science, education, human services, engineering, medicine or a field related to behavior analysis and approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.2. Completed 225 Hour of classroom in graduation3. Complete 1500 hours of Supervised Independent Fieldwork in behavior analysis.4. Complete 1000 hours of Practicum in behavior analysis within a university practicum program approved by the BACB and taken for graduate academic credit.5. Complete 750 hours of Intensive Practicum in behavior analysis within a university practicum program approved by the BACB and taken for graduate academic credit.These are the some of the steps which are followed to get a jobs of BCBA.
What are the best colleges and universities for counselling psychology?
As far as I know, all states only require a Masters degree for licensure as a professional counselor or social worker. Where I am in Texas, a licensed professional counselor (LPC) needs a Masters, completion of the NCE board exam, and 3000 supervised hours of counseling for licensure.However, many counselor do go on to complete a PhD later. If a PhD is something you just really want then you go girl :) But it probably wouldn’t be required. There are also other doctorate programs for psychology like psychiatry (requires medical school, they don’t really counsel but specialize in treating disorders through medication, etc. like a doctor) and a PsyD (more research based, doing psych evals - which a counselor can do, assessments).
How do I become a behavior specialist?
First, I would look to get a Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis. A lot of times, this program is embedded either in the Special Education program or Psychology program. Applied Behavior Analysis is the best way to go to become a behavior specialist. (I don't know where you live, but good programs are Temple, Ohio State, North Texas, U. of Florida, and more...) Secondly, the credentials in the field are called BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) or BCABA (associates level). To sit for this exam, you need coursework in the field (your masters coursework) and supervised experience. Then, you have to sit for the exam and pass. More and more, places are looking for these credentials, and these are really the only credentials that hold water in the field. Check out the certification website at www.bacb.com. The position usually entails evaluating or analyzing student problem behavior and trying to find the reason or "function" to the problem behavior, usually using an FBA (Functional Behavior Assessment) which could be collecting descriptive data or a Functional Analysis (FA). Then, once you find the reason or function, you then evaluate potential treatments based on the results of your FBA. Treatments usually consist of manipulating antecedents and consequences to behavior in order to decrease problem behavior and increase adaptive behavior.
ABA Therapists?
ABA therapists implement an ABA program to an individual with autism. ABA is typically introduced when the child is young (around 3-4 years) and intervention is very intensive-Sometimes 40+ hours a week. As the child grows and develops more skills, the intensity of the therapy may reduce, depending on the individual's needs. ABA programs include different expressive, receptive, social and other skills that autistic individuals need to learn. For more information on ABA, look at http://www.brighttots.com/aba_therapy.ht... or google Applied Behavior Analysis and you'll get lots of results. A lead ABA therapist develops this program, often with an autism consultant and oversees and trains the other ABA therapists. You can become an ABA therapist by training with an autism consultant, getting involved with an ABA home program, or actually become a certified ABA therapist to work in a school for children with autism. These schools usually require you to have a masters degree in ABA or related fields. It really depends on the school. Pay rates depend on where you live and what type of setting you are in. I live in Illinois, and I worked in a home program. I was paid through a private corporation who specialized in respite work and other services for people with disabilities. I started out making $7 an hour and after 4 years and much training was making $13 dollars an hour when I graduated from college. I just did this as a part time job while I was in college to become a special education teacher. The more education and experience you have, the more money you can make. Obviously you can make MUCH more working at a private school for autistic children than working in a home program. It really just depends on what you want to do.